XM148 grenade launcher
| Launcher, Grenade, 40 mm, XM148 | |
|---|---|
 The XM148 grenade launcher. | |
| Type | Grenade Launcher |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| Used by | U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Australia |
| Wars | Vietnam War, 1989 Philippine coup attempt (U.S.A.F. issue) |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Karl R. Lewis |
| Designed | 1964 |
| Manufacturer | Colt Firearms |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3 lb (1.36 kg) |
| Length | 16.5 in |
| Barrel length | 10 in |
| Cartridge | 40x46mm grenade |
| Action | Single shot |
| Muzzle velocity | 247 ft/s (74.5 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 437 yd (400 m) |
| Sights | Quadrant sight |
The XM148 was an experimental 40 mm grenade launcher developed by Colt Firearms as the CGL-4 (Colt Grenade Launcher). Colt manufactured the launcher for field testing during the Vietnam era.
It was designed for installation below the barrel of M16-type rifles, and was intended to replace the stand-alone M79 correcting the problem of grenadiers relying on pistols as a secondary weapon. After problems with the experimental design were discovered, the XM148 was replaced by AAI Corporation's conceptually similar M203 design, currently the primary grenade launcher used by the US armed forces and others today. Originally made for use with the M16 Rifle, the XM148 was also used by US Special Forces in conjunction with the XM177E2 and the Australian SASR in conjunction with the modified L1A1, nicknamed "the bitch".
The launcher's barrel could slide forward to accept a single 40 mm round into the breech. It came with a primitive version of the quadrant sight later used with the M203. It differed from the later model by featuring an external cocking handle and an extended trigger that allowed the weapon to be fired without removing the hand from the rifle's pistol grip. This same extended trigger was also one source of the weapon's problems as it allowed accidental discharges of a loaded weapon if caught by tree branches, gear, or anything else capable of overcoming the 6 to 11 pound trigger pull.
Another problem with the weapon was that it was overly complicated compared to the M-203. It was difficult to disassemble and had many small parts that could be easily lost while cleaning the weapon in the field. Where the M-203 broke down into receiver group, barrel group, hand guard group and quadrent sight (the quadrent sight being the smallest piece). The XM-148 broke down into barrel, pistol grip, receiver, hand guard, quadrent sight, and several small pins amd clips.
The Colt XM148 grenade launcher was created by Colt's Design Project Engineer, gun designer Karl R. Lewis. The May 1967 "Colt's Ink" newsletter announced that he had won a national competition for his selection and treatment of materials in the design. The newsletter stated in part, "In only 47 days, he wrote the specifications, designed the launcher, drew all the original prints, and had a working model built."
Sources
- TM 9-1005-249-14 Technical Manual Rifle, 5.56-mm, M16; Rifle, 5.56-mm, XM16E1; and Launcher, Grenade, 40-mm, XM148 dated 1 August 1966 (reprint)
See also
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